Capitol View: November 10, 2009 Archive

Emmer picks up support

Posted at 6:41 AM on November 10, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

GOP Rep. Tom Emmer's campaign for governor picked up the support of eight state lawmakers. They are: Bruce Anderson, HD 19A, Mark Buesgens, HD 35B, Steve Drazkowski, HD 28B, Tom Hackbarth, HD 48A, Mary Liz Holberg, HD 36A, Amy Koch, SD 19, Tim Sanders, HD 51A, Peggy Scott, HD 49A. Here's part of the release:

The legislators each underscored the critical nature of the upcoming election. "There has never been a more crucial time in Minnesota for serious, dependable, conservative leadership," said Scott. "We know that Tom will carry on Tim Pawlenty's legacy of standing firm in the face of reckless and irresponsible government spending. Minnesota's government will live within its means with Tom as governor, even while Washington continues its unprecedented spending spree."

Hackbarth added that "the states that conserve their fiscal resources and watch their pennies will be the states that emerge first and strongest from this recession."

Koch noted that their early endorsements were intended to help Emmer's campaign cultivate grassroots support statewide. Tom has already visited each of Minnesota's 67 Senate Districts in these first four months of campaigning.

"Tom's campaign clearly has momentum on its side. He is out working for the endorsement every day," she said. "Courting delegates is about forging a personal bond. He's recruiting delegate support one-by-one and his work is paying dividends. To meet Tom one to one is to be impressed by Tom."

"Tom is a look-you-in-the-eye leader who is not in this race for politics," Buesgens said. "You'll never hear him say, 'vote for me because I'm the compromise candidate who can win.' He is in it to do the right thing."

Added Drazkowsi: "Minnesotans have a track record of voting for candidates who believe in something."

"Tom is the right choice for Governor," said Holberg, "both among those who are currently running and among those who are being talked about."

"I'm grateful and humbled that my colleagues would pledge their support for me like this," Emmer said. "There is no better test of a candidate than to achieve support from the people they have worked with in the trenches."

He added that he expects other legislative endorsements to be forthcoming.

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Politico: keep an eye on Minnesota's 6th district

Posted at 10:30 AM on November 10, 2009 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

There are a lot of big contests in 2010. And the race in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District is already getting national attention. Politico lists Rep. Michele Bachmann's bid for a third term as one of 10 contests to keep an eye on. Here's what Charles Mahtesian had to say about the 6th:

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann drives Democrats batty with her in-your-face conservatism, yet no matter what they throw at her, she still seems to end up on top. In 2008, Democrats thought she wouldn't be able to recover from her sensational October cable-television comment that Obama "may have anti-American views." Almost $2 million poured into her Democratic rival's campaign as a result. Still, Bachmann managed to pull off a narrow victory. This time around, bolstered by progressive online activists who detest Bachmann, Democrats are hoping to mount an even more aggressive effort to dislodge the two-term congresswoman. But that hasn't stopped Bachmann, who recently described Democrats' health care plan as the "crown jewel of socialism." And Bachmann won't be an easy mark - she's amassed an army of small donors and attained rock-star status on the right, which is just as eager to return her to Congress as the left is to send her back home to Minnesota.

Clark hires campaign staff

Posted at 11:15 AM on November 10, 2009 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

State Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St.Cloud, has named the campaign team for her congressional bid in the 6th district.

In a news release today, Clark announced that she hired Zach Rodvold as her campaign Manager. Rodvold was state director for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Rodvold also led Klobuchar's campaign field operation in 2006 and was GOTV Director for the Obama-Biden campaign in Minnesota.

Clark named Lauren Beecham as her finance director. Her other campaign staff hires were Nicole Wittig-Geske and Stacey Springer.